Hyderabad is the capital of Telangana in Southern India, located on the banks of the Musi River and on the Deccan Plateau. Hyderabad and Secunderabad are "twin cities" near Hussain Sagar Lake (also known as Tank Bund in local parlance) but both cities have grown so much that now they have become one big metropolis. The city and district of Hyderabad are coterminous. Hyderabad district is entirely contained within the Ranga Reddy district of Telangana. Many of the suburbs of Hyderabad were recently merged into the city, now called Greater Hyderabad.

A city rich with history and tradition, Hyderabad now competes with Bangalore and Chennai for the crown of India's IT capital; Microsoft and Google have their India headquarters here.

Districts

The city of Hyderabad

Many visitors never make it past the attractions in Old City, but you haven't truly seen Hyderabad until you have ventured out into the neighborhoods. The city is split into north, west, east and south of the central district. There are differences in culture visible throughout the city.

Districts of Hyderabad

Central Zone (King Kothi, Abids, Lakdikapul, Mehdipatnam, Tolichowki, Banjara Hills, Jubilee Hills, Ameerpet, Punjagutta, Himayat Nagar, Kacheguda, Narayanguda, Chikkadpally and Nallakunta.)The center of Hyderabad has upscale neighbourhoods along with several venues of entertainment and dining. There is lots to see and do as well.

South Zone (Charminar, Patthargatti, Afzalgunj, Shalibanda, Falaknuma, Dabirpura,Yakutpura and Purani Haveli.)This is where most of Hyderabad's famous historical sights are. Also called Old City or Purana Shahr, the South Zone is home to Hyderabad's most lively and authentic shopping experience. The Taj Falaknuma, an erstwhile palace now converted into a luxury hotel, is in the South Zone.

North Zone (Begumpet,Secunderabad,Malkajgiri, Trimulghery, Alwal and Kundanbagh.)The North Zone is the erstwhile British Cantonment area of Secunderabad. Completely different from the South Zone, this zone is far more cleaner and organised than the former.

West Zone (Kukkatpally, Miyapur, Bharat Nagar, Gacchibowli, Nanakramguda and HITEC City.)This is home to the newer CBD of Hyderabad. If you're in Hyderabad for a business trip, you are most likely to end up here.

East Zone (Uppal, Kapra, Dilsukhnagar, LB Nagar, Gaddiannaram and Saroornagar.)Home to a lot of educational institutes, this region will be the first to see a Metro line run through.

Understand

If you are traveling to Hyderabad on business — as is increasingly the case now — it is easy to miss the 400-year-old Hyderabad. The city that immediately hits the eye is a sprawling metropolis of shopping malls and office buildings with glass facades. The whole of the city seems to be under construction or renovation and the roads are jammed because flyovers are being constructed. It is a magnificent city in many senses.

The "old city" that was once the seat of the Nizam, the ruler of the largest and the most opulent "princely state", and the twin city of Secunderabad where the British maintained a cantonment to keep the army within striking distance of the Nizam can be seen only if you take the time out to see them.

Hyderabad's many epithets include the City of Pearls, the City of Nawabs, the Biryani City and, because of its high-tech draw, Cyberabad.

History

Golconda Fort

In 1463 Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk established the fortress of Golconda about 8 km to the west of Hyderabad’s present day old city. He had quelled rebellion in the Telangana region and was appointed the subedar, or administrator of the region as a result. By 1518, he had become independent from the Bahmani sultan, declared himself the Sultan under the name of Quli Qutb Shah and established the Qutb Shahi dynasty. In 1589, Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, a grandson of Quli Qutb Shah, made the decision to move his capital from the Golconda fort to the present day location of Hyderabad due to water shortages at the old location. In 1591, he ordered the construction of the Charminar, reportedly in gratitude to Allah for cutting short a plague epidemic before it could do too much damage.

The name "Hyderabad" reportedly had its origins in an affair between Mohammad Quli Qutb Shah and a local Telugu courtesan named Bhagmati. He named the city Bhagyanagar after her, and after she converted to Islam and took on the name of "Hyder Mahal", he named the city Hyderabad. Hyderabad was built on a grid plan with help from Iranian architects. French traveler Jean-Baptiste Tavernier favorably compared Hyderabad to Orleans.

The Qutb Shahi dynasty lasted till 1687, when the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb defeated the sultanate and took over Hyderabad. He appointed his governor as ruler of the region and granted him the title of Nizam-ul-Mulk. However, Mughal rule was short-lived and in 1724, the Nizam Asaf Jah I gained independence from a declining Mughal empire. Legend has it that while on a hunting expedition, he met a holy man who offered him some kulchas and asked him to eat as much as he could. Asaf Jah ate only seven, and the holy man prophesied that his dynasty would last for seven generations. Sure enough, the seventh ruler in the dynasty was the last. In honour of the legend, the flag of the Nizams featured a kulcha.

Around 1763, Asif Jah II, defeated by the Marathas and threatened by Tipu Sultan of Mysore, entered into a subsidiary alliance with a British. Hyderabad state became a "princely state", protected by, and under the overlordship of the British. The British maintained their army in nearby Secunderabad to protect the Nizam and to ensure that he did not do any mischief. Hyderabad state was the richest in the country and in the 1930s Time magazine rated the Nizam the richest man in the world. In 1947, with India's independence, the seventh Nizam was reluctant to cede his principality to the newly independent India, preferring Pakistan instead. India sent in its troops and the 200 year old prophesy was fulfilled. On September 17th 1948, it was merged in to India. Hyderabad become the capital city of Hyderabad state till November 1st 1956. After forced merger of hyderabad state with Andhra state and formed new linguistic state Andhra Pradesh on Nov 1st 1956. Thus, Hyderabad became the capital of the newly formed state of Andhra Pradesh. The new capital's administrative buildings were located around Hussain Sagar Lake, approximately between Secunderabad and the "old city", as the Nizam's city came to be called.

In 1995, Chandrababu Naidu became chief minister of Andhra Pradesh. Among his key policies was a major initiative to turn the city into an IT hub. He cleaned up the streets, laid out IT parks and did much to attract technology companies into the city. Today, as Bangalore’s infrastructure is choked by the city’s rapid growth, Hyderabad's well-laid out streets are proving to be a major attraction for software and IT-enabled companies. The technology enclave of Madhapur has actually been officially named Hi tec city, and "Cyberabad" is commonly used as an alternative name to Hyderabad.

In 2007, the suburbs of Hyderabad were merged with the city to form Greater Hyderabad. In 2009, the longstanding demand to have Telangana created as a separate state came to boil, with low intensity agitations and disturbances shaking up Hyderabad. While the traveller need not worry much (see the "Stay safe" section for more) it does call into question Hyderabad's future status, as Telangana includes Hyderabad city.

The city of Hyderabad

Orientation

The best way to orient yourself to Hyderabad is to think with reference to two water bodies - the Musi river and the Hussain Sagar Lake. The Musi river flows from the west to the east, a few kilometers south of Hussain Sagar Lake.

The Old city lies mostly on the south bank of the Musi, though this guide will treat the Golkonda, which lies on the north bank, as part of the old city. Most historical attractions, including the Charminar lie on this bank.

Map of Old City,Hyderabad

Secunderabad lies to the north-east of Hussain Sagar lake. This has historically been a military cantonment, which means that the roads are better maintained and broader. It has nice parks, open spaces and some excellent restaurants.

The New city, which contains the administrative offices of Andhra Pradesh lies on the north bank of the Musi, to the east and south-east of Hussain Sagar.

Punjagutta to Gachibowli is a vast region to the west and north-west of Hussain Sagar, on the north bank of the Musi. This has developed in the past twenty years. Areas of interest here are Punjagutta and Ameerpet, which are enormous shopping areas. Banjara Hills and Jubilee Hills is where Hyderabad's swish set lives, and contain some good parks and restaurants. The newly developed "Hi tec city" and Gachibowli are 9 km to the west of the new city. This is where most technology and business process outsourcing (BPO) firms have their campuses.

Culture and attitudes

In many senses, Hyderabad is the meeting ground between North and South India. The city has a culture that is distinct from the rest of Andhra Pradesh, showing Islamic influences and a courtly presence imparted from its period as the capital of the Nizamate. This is more evident in the old city. The new city resembles many provincial state capitals in India. Secunderabad is more cosmopolitan, as the Cantonment area is located in this part of the city.

Due to a recent influx of young men and women from various parts of the country for better job opportunities, Hyderabad's culture and attitudes have taken a turn towards "modernity". However, it is good to keep in mind that the city is still a deeply conservative place and to dress appropriately, especially in the old city.

Note that people have a very indifferent attitude towards time and a very laid back attitude.

Climate

Like many Indian cities Hyderabad has a tropical climate. The best time to visit the city is from mid-November to mid-February.Temperatures are mild with abundant sunshine during this time and average temperature range from a low of 15°C (59°F) to a high of 29°C (85°F).
March to June is hot and dry with occasional thunderstorms. Highs can reach 45°C (113°F) or more and lack of air-conditioning can make it feel very uncomfortable. July, August, September and October can be quite warm and humid and low pressure systems from the Bay of Bengal during the monsoon season can cause heavy rain for days.

Talk

Telugu (the state language of Telangana and one of India's six living classical languages) and Urdu are widely spoken in Hyderabad, and most educated people speak Telugu, Urdu, Hindi and/or English.

English signs are common.

The city is one of the main places where Urdu developed, and the dialect spoken primarily by the large Muslim population is known as “Deccani Urdu” or Dakhani Urdu” (which both translate to Urdu of the Deccan). Because of the influence of Urdu, a dialect of Hindi is also spoken in the city and your Hindi phrasebook may still be useful.

Get in

Hyderabad is well connected to all parts of the country by air, rail and road.

By plane

Hyderabad's new Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (IATA: HYD) [108] is located 22 km (14 mi) from the city. Note that the old airport at Begumpet is now closed, except for use by VIPs. The sleek and well-organized airport is one of the best aviation facilities in India. The elevated expressway [109] to the airport is now open and takes 20 minutes. Direct international connectivity from Hyderabad is available for many countries. International carriers operating from Hyderabad are Air India, British Airways, Emirates, Malaysia Airlines, Air Asia, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Silk Air, Etihad Airways, Cathay Pacific and Thai Airways.

Domestic connectivity is excellent with Indian airlines operating from here including Air India, Air India Express, Indian Airlines, Indigo Airlines, Jet Airways, JetLite, Trujet and SpiceJet. (Kingfisher is now defunct, and Trujet is new)

Once you arrive at Hyderabad airport, one option is to take the air-conditioned buses run by the airport (Pushpak) [110] to various designated points in the city such as (1) Begumpet (Paryatak Bhavan) (2) Secunderabad (Keyes High School) (3) Hi-Tec City (Opposite Shilparamam) at prices varying between Rs 150 and Rs. 250 based on the distance of travel, and two designated points in the city (4) Charminar (City College) (5) Mehdipatnam (Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital). The buses have a frequency of a bus every 30 min from 3:30AM-11PM and every hour at midnight, 1AM, 2AM and 3AM and travel time varies from 45 mins to 2 hrs depending on time of the day and traffic conditions. You can reach the designated points and then take an auto or metered cab from there. (updated fares and travel time)

Alternatively, you can hire metered air-conditioned radio cabs starting from Rs 40 for the first 2 km (see Get around section) Skycabs and Meru are approved by the airport @ 21 Rs/km and are available just after exiting the terminal building. For the rest, you need to call and book with a lead time of 15 minutes to 1 hour. These cabs charge 25% surcharge in the night (ie, Rs 26.25 per km between 2300 hours and 0500 hours). Hyderabad traffic police counter is on the ground floor with prepaid taxis. Beware of taxi soliciting tours at the airport greeting area; they might try to scam you into exorbitant rates (especially so in case of non- locals) The Hyderabad Traffic Police has partnered with the Airport authorities to run a counter for prepaid taxis. This is a safe option with all taxis being registered with the police. The police also runs a SHE cab service now, especially for women travellers, with female drivers and safety equipment such as a GPS connected to the Police Control Room.One can also hire a cab from many app- based services such as Uber or Ola, whose fares are available in the apps and their websites (Please keep in mind that while these services are substantially cheaper than the radio cabs, they will charge Rs. 200 in addition to the fare as parking charges levied on them by the airport). This option is the best while travelling to the airport, as the parking charges do not apply for departures. (added new initiatives)

Hired cars are also available from a booth just before walking outside of the airport. This gives you the advantage of paying in advance, thereby avoiding any disagreements over price.The airport can be contacted on their (toll free for BSNL/MTNL subscribers) number 1 800 419-2008 for all services and inquiries including arrivals / departure information, facilities, transport availability, etc.

By train

There are three major railway stations serving the twin cities: Secunderabad, Hyderabad , and Kachiguda and a minor station at Begumpet. Most of the trains bound for South India and North India originate from Hyderabad,and leave via Secunderabad. Hyderabad Deccan Station is popularly known as Nampally Station.
Find all trains to Hyderabad- http://trainspy.com/static/station/(SC)SECUNDERABAD-JN

By car

Hyderabad is well connected to other major Metros by road. Bangalore is connected by NH7 and is at a distance of 560 km. The city is 752 km from Chennai (using highways NH9 and NH5) and 800 km from Mumbai (NH9 till Pune and the expressway to Mumbai.) The Bangalore Hyderabad section is part of the North South corridor which is being upgraded to a four-lane divided highway.

By bus

Hyderabad is well-connected to all parts of the Telangana and most parts of South and Western India. Both state government and private buses operate large number of luxury and ordinary services across the state and neighboring states.

JBS, (Jubilee Bus station), is in Secunderabad. TSRTC runs direct A/C coaches to Mumbai, Bengaluru (Bangalore) and Chennai. Telangana tourism runs A/C coaches to, Mumbai, Chennai and Bengaluru. You have to book the tickets in advance. There are many online bus ticketing portals to book bus tickets. Mybustickets is one such portal.

MGBS or Imliban, is said to be the largest bus station in the world with around 84 bus bays side by side. TSRTC has pickup and drop points from various points in the city. In addition, government-run bus services of neighboring states also run buses to Hyderabad, as do various private companies.

Private Buses. South India is largely well served by organised private bus operators. They run luxury buses like Volvo, Mercedes, Kinglong Cerita buses including multi axle buses. These are air-conditioned, semi sleeper or sleeper services with online ticket booking facilities. Important private travel hubs are KPHB Colony, Lakdi-Ka-Pool, Paradise centre in Secunderabad and Dilsukh nagar. Luxury services run to many cities from these places. Non-metropolitan areas and towns are often connected by non-A/C buses but are still provided with comfortable seating.

It may be difficult to find direct buses from North India due large size of that part of the country.

Get around

Autorickshaw/Auto

There are many ways to get around in Hyderabad. It has good bus service, good autorickshaw service (although they never charge by meter and always overprice, making cabs cheaper) and well developed Radio taxi services as well as new app based services such as Uber and Ola. There is a local train service too, but it is grossly inadequate and unreliable. It is advisable that travelers using smartphones download the Hyderabad Police and Hyderabad Traffic Police apps from the app store, as these have some safety features such as and SOS button to the control room, as well as options to lodge complaints.

By bus

Hyderabad has good local bus connectivity and is run by TSRTC[112], a state-government owned corporation. Most intercity buses start and end at the Mahatma Gandhi Bus Terminus more commonly known as Imlibun, and there are numerous depots where city service buses start and end. One can use Google maps to plan travel by bus. There are five categories of buses (Ordinary, Metro Express, Metro Deluxe, AC, Volvo AC). The Volvo Buses are the most comfortable, with fares starting from Rs. 35. There are also monthly passes of Rs. 2100 that allow one to travel anywhere any number of times by any service across the city). Other buses tend to get extremely overcrowded and traveling on the footboard of a bus is very common.

The routes displayed on buses are normally shown in at least two languages, one of which is English. The best way to get to a location by bus would be to get to a bus stop and ask people waiting there. You could also get into a bus going in your direction and ask the conductor for help.

By autorickshaw

Autorickshaws in Hyderabad should be metered, though it can be difficult for non-locals and locals alike to find an autorickshaw driver who ever agrees to a metered fare. (This is especially true when hailing an auto in front of a 5 star hotel, near bus stands, railway stations and near Hi-Tech area.) However, Traffic police are very helpful and will help engage an Auto with metered fare. Autos can carry a maximum of 3 passengers excluding the driver, but it is common to find them being overloaded to carry up to six passengers when one . The minimum fare is Rs 20 which covers the first 1.6 km. Each additional km is another Rs 11. The waiting charges are for Rs. 30 per hour. There are also shared 4 seater and 8 seater Maxi Vans available to and fro from the suburbs to a main location of the city in that direction. Fares are mostly 2 rupees more than bus fares, but are far more comfortable and fast for short distances up to 5 km. Fix the fare before you step into the autorickshaw.

Auto Drivers in Hyderabad are a nightmare and are absolutely uncooperative. Finding a needle in a haystack is easier than finding an auto driver who agrees to go by the metered rate with a common excuse that their meter is not functioning. They always demand a much higher fare even though the fare has been increased from time to time. It is advised to keep extra change with you since most of the auto drivers will claim that they don't have change, even if they have. If you have a choice then always opt for a Prepaid Cab.

Reckless driving and accidents are very common here, as is the case with most cities in this part of the world.

Most of the auto drivers want you to checkout pearls shop (which they claim are authorized by the Govt.) in exchange of less fare however they are okay if you don't buy anything from these shops, just sit there for 10 minutes. They are encouraged with incentives to bring customers into these shops. The pearl shops are notorious for persuasive sales tactics and they won't let you out easily. So pay the complete fare to auto drivers instead of being diverted to a pearl shop.

Auto drivers get some percent of the entry fees (around Rs. 10/-) if they take you to the places like Chowmoholla Palace or Salarjung museum for free. If you are around these areas get into some auto instead of walking down and ask them to drop you there.

Also in many parts of the city it is easy to find a shared auto running, just reach the nearest bus stop and ask the locals for a shared auto, they should readily guide you. If u see an over loaded auto-rikshaw, it is a shared one and you just need to wave at the next less-populated one.

Auto Drivers in Hyderabadare especially reckless drivers. Better book a cab than take an Auto, even at a higher price, for the air conditioned comfort and protection from pollution, as well as for relief from the antics of the 'Auto wallahs'.
There are exemplary auto drivers too, but unfortunately the others outnumber them by far.

By taxi

It is best to use new app based cabs such as Ola and Uber, which assure service and courteous drivers. However, there have been cases of misbehavior by drivers (although few) and it is advised to use the Hyderabad Police app and enter the details of the cab you are getting into, to be safe. Fares for these start at Rs. 6 per km and Rs. 1 per minute of ride time. (Ola Micro). Availability is very good at busy locales, and most apps have tracking features as well as SOS features. Metered Radio taxis are available, but they cannot be hailed off the street. One needs to call their centralized call center and book the service. Service is very good, especially if you are looking for longer distances. It can be next to impossible to be able to get a Radio cab without prior booking since demand far outstrips the supply. All metered cabs have digital meters that show the distance and fare.

Operators offering metered taxis at Rs 10 per km (Most of them are now charging Rs 12 per km for an Indica, Rs 10 continues in case of Maruti Omni) with a minimum charge is Rs 80 in most cases. Many taxi services prefer not to book trips that are only a short distance.

It is preferred to use travel curators like Vayu Travels for customized itinerary planning and comfortable travel.

However covering the entire city with so many sightseeing locations will be costly on a CAB, whereas hiring a Full Day Taxi / Car is suggested, which normally charge on 8 hrs or 80 km basis

By suburban train

MMTS Local Train

Local trains called MMTS are available, albeit only for a few places in Hyderabad, The frequency ranges from 10 to 30 minutes, except during day time and Sundays, when there are fewer trains. It is a fast way of travel to the few stations it covers, and the cheapest option as well. If you plan to travel through MMTS check out the schedule on the website MMTS Train Timings, [113]. If you are foreign traveler it is advisable to take first class. General class tend to get overcrowded and you can never find a seat at intermediate stations. If you have to catch a train do not rely on the MMTS schedule, as it is rarely followed and usually late; Trains may also get cancelled without prior notice. Daily and monthly passes are also available at the MMTS stations.

By metro

The metro network includes 3 lines covering a distance of around 66.56 km. Out of this, a network of 30km. was thrown open to the public on the 29th of November 2017. The currently operational stretches are: a) Nagole to Ameerpet: 19 km and b) Ameerpet to Miyapur: 11km. The entire 66.56 km 57-station first phase is due to be completed by December 2018.

By car

Hyderabad lacks an expressway system, leading to traffic jams during rush hours. However, an 160 km Ring Road Expressway [114] is currently under construction.

Driving is exciting in Hyderabad not unlike in the rest of India. You find cycles, motor cycles, rickshaws, hand carts, autos, share autos, mini trucks, buses, vestibule buses, double deckers, Volvos jostling along. There are long stretches of roads passing through thickly populated areas that have no median breaks, so vehicles, including motorbikes and cars, simply drive on the wrong side of the road. Several modern flyovers now link the arterial roads.

Several car rental agencies are available at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport as well in the following locations.

By Motorcycle

In Hyderabad you can rent motorcycles and scooters to get around city and outstation trips.

roadpanda You can rent two wheelers (motorcycles and scooters) on hourly rental basis from roadpanda.

By Tourist Bus

The Telangana Tourism department runs a hop- on hop- off[115] bus service that takes one around the city.

On foot

Hyderabad's interesting districts are fairly spread out, but are enjoyable to explore by foot on their own. The Old City is composed of a maze of disorienting alleyways that expand outward from the Charminar. Getting lost in the markets (where you can buy anything from hand-sequined saris to freshly slaughtered goats) and alleyways in the Old City can make for a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon. The famous Chudi Bazaar (Lad Bazaar) across from the Charminar is a chaotic tumble of goods, people, animals and vehicles are navigated quickly on foot. The Chowmahalla palace and the Mecca Masjid are both easily accessed from the Charminar. Necklace Road, Sultan Bazar (Koti) and Abids are worth taking some time to wander around. Please note that walking can be hazardous in Hyderabad. It is common for roads to be missing pavement, or simply unpaved, and bikes and autorickshaws may go to right up to the edge of the road and climb any barrier to get ahead in traffic. Walking alongside and crossing the road can be very dangerous and it is important to stay alert for erratic driving. It is always advisable to use the foot-over bridge if there is one available.

See

Old city

Charminar

Old city is the historical region of Hyderabad. Most of the historical attractions are situated in the old city.

Charminar. M-Sa 9AM-5PM, closed on F 1PM-2PM for prayers. Literally "Four minarets", this structure was built at the very spot at which Quli Qutb Shah prayed for the end to the plague epidemic. The Charminar has long been the icon of Hyderabad. The towers rise to a height of 48.7 m above the ground. It has 140 steps. Graffiti on the walls have diminished the beauty of the Charminar. There is a mosque with 45 prayer spaces located inside in the upper storeys. The structure stands in the middle of a busy road with vehicular traffic, but a pedestrianization project is under way. Atop the minarets, you get a panoramic view of Hyderabad city. At the very bottom of one of the minar is a Hindu temple. The traffic is less than ideal. Plan an early morning trip around 9 a.m. if shopping is not on your to-do list.Rs 5, Children below 11 free (for Indians), Rs 100 (for foreigners), Video cameras are charged Rs 25 extra.

Mecca Masjid, (SW of the Char Minar). Mecca Masjid is one of the oldest mosques in the city and easily the biggest. Muhammed Quli Qutub Shah began building it in 1617 under the supervision of Mir Faizullah Baig and Rangiah Choudhary. Mughal emperor Aurangzeb completed the construction in 1694. The mosque is a granite giant with awe-inspiring innards. The main hall of the mosque is 75 feet high, 220 feet wide and 180 feet long, big enough to accommodate ten thousand worshipers at a time. It is believed that Muhammed Quli commissioned bricks to be made with the soil brought from Mecca and inducted them into the construction of the central arch of the mosque, which explains the name of the mosque. It is mandatory for women to have a dupatta / shawl in order to be granted entry into the premises.

Falaknuma Palace. Built by Nawab Viqar al-Umra in 1872, Falaknuma is a stunning piece of architecture and the most opulent of the Nizam's palaces. The interior is particularly impressive and features the works of Florentine sculptors and a 100-seater Dining Table. The palace has been converted into a hotel run by the Taj group and is no longer accessible to general public.

Golconda Fort. 7AM-8PM. The Golconda Fort was the capital of the Qutb Shahi kingdom. Set aside a minimum of 2 hr to do justice to your visit -- the outer wall measures 10 km. Learning a little about the fort ahead of time is recommended as it is easy to get confused or lost in the massive space. If you accept one of the local guides - who hustle you at the entrance gate - try to pick one who actually knows his stuff (Rs 500 per tour and the guide would also ask you for tips in the end, however it is entirely up to you whether to give tips or not), rather than someone who was actually just passing by, spotted you and will tell you bits he once read in a guidebook. The genuine old Muslim guide who gained his encyclopedic knowledge of Golconda as an infant from his 118 year old grandmother knows the history of every inch of the place and will show you with expertise the echo/architecture system built into the fort that the ruler used as a communication/spying system. There is also a light and sound show - the story of Golkonda - for an hour, which could be a little boring,(price for foreigners Rs 50/100 for normal/executive ticket) after sunset lasting ~1h that tells you the story of the fort and is worth seeing. The English show runs Nov-Feb 6:30PM daily and Mar-Oct until 7PM daily. Hindi and Telugu shows are run afterwards in certain days. Afterwards, have a wander through the tiny streets and shops surrounding the fort. The beautiful scruffy old shops and houses will sell you everything from naan bread to bangles, and the fading and gaudy old painted gates and houses are a delight, as are the friendly locals.Rs 100 all.

Qutubshahi Tombs

Qutb Shahi Tombs (1 km north of Golconda fort, approached via Banjara Darwaza), [10]. Sa-Th 9:30AM-5:30PM. The Qutubshahi mosques in Hyderabad are so named because they were built by the Qutubshahi dynasty. Most of them were built by Quli Qutb Shah, the founder. Sadly in May 2010 local newspapers revealed that shoddy 'restoration' work allegedly using unskilled labour with road drills (bought in by one government department that didn't bother to seek professional advice or inform the local archaeological or environment departments) has been damaging these beautiful buildings.Rs 10, camera Rs 20.

H.E.H The Nizam's Museum, Purani Haveli, Hyderabad-2 (Behind Princess Durru Shehvar Children's Hospital), ☎+91 40 2452 1029. Sa-Th 10AM-5PM. Home to the famous wardrobe of Mahbub Ali Pasha, who is said never to have worn the same thing twice. It is the world's longest wardrobe, built in two levels with a hand-cranked wooden lift(elevator) in place. This occupies the entire length of one wing of the palace. Hard to find, take small road next to Princess Durru Shehwar Hospital, entrance gate at N17 22.002 E78 28.975Rs 50, students & children Rs 15. (N17 22.002,E78 28.975)

Hussain Shah Wali Dargah.

Moula Ali Dargah. 400 stairs brings you to a place of worship built by the Asif Jahis. The Moula Ali Dargah was built in the memory of Hazrat Ali, the son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad. Legend has it that Yakoob, a eunuch in the court of Ibrahim Quli, went to the hill after he saw Hazrat Ali seated on it. To his surprise, he saw the impression of Ali's palm on a stone, which he had dreamt. He had the impression cut out and installed in a shrine. Ibrahim Shah later built a mosque beside the dargah. A Ashurkhana , a Baradari (pavilion) and an Nqqar khana (place for beating drums) were built during the Qutb Shahi period.

Osmania Arts College. Built during the period of the last Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan. The imposing facade of the building is a great sight.

Paigah Tombs, Santoshnagar (Pisal Banda). daytime. These tombs belong to the 'Paigah' nobles (tied by blood and marriage to the Nizams) and are about 200 years old. These unique lime and mortar tombs are beautifully carved and have marble inlay work on them. Relaxing environment with bird singing. N17 20.639 E78 30.248seems free. (N17 20.639,E78 30.248)

Purani Haveli, Dewandevdi (SE of Afzalganj Bridge). Sa-Th 10:30AM-5PM. Originally, the palace of the Nizam's Prime Minister, later it was renovated and became the quarters of the Nizam's son. It is a U-shaped complex with a single-storeyed building in the European style.

Raymond Tomb, Dilsukh Nagar, Asmaan Gadh. Michel Raymond, a French mercenary, was a military commander in the service of the second Nizam and also his close friend. His tomb is located at Saroornagar, and is made of black granite with beautiful sky view of the area

Salar Jung Museum, Naya Pul, Afzalgunj (Turn left once you reach the south bank of Musi using the Nayapul), ☎+91 40 2452 3211. Sa-Th 10AM-5PM, ticketing closes at 4:15PM. This collection belonged to the Salar Jungs, Prime Minsters of Hyderabad, but has been augmented since. The collection includes articles mostly from medieval and modern times, with a concentration of articles from the Islamic era. The western wing on the second floor is interesting. It contains paintings, furniture and other objects that the Salar Jung got from the West. The collection of Nizam jewellery is displayed only on special occasions. It is one of the best private collections and museums in India. Free guided tours lasting two hours each are available at scheduled times, four times a day. Inquire at the entrance. Cameras, bags and liquids are not allowed, but mobile cameras are winked at. Deposit your contraband at the free lockers available near the ticketing area. Rs 10 for Indians and Rs 150 for foreigners.

Toli Masjid, Karwan. 300 years old. Known for its splendid architecture.

New city

TS State Museum. Displays a stunning array of artifacts dating back to the 1st century to the 20th Century. Ranging from the Lotus Medallion of the 1st century to the Amazing Kalankari work that adorned the bed-spreads of the Nizams to a period room that displays the typical living room of the Nizam time to the Jain sculptures and Statues - this place has it all.

The Birla Mandir.

Birla Mandir, Adarsh Nagar, Naubat Pahad (Two different routes depending on whether you want to drive right to the top or climb the stairs.). 10AM-noon, 2PM-8PM. The industrial house of the Birlas have the tradition of building magnificent marble temples in cities of India. This one is one of the best. Located on top of Naubat Pahad (mountain), this clean, sparkling white temple dedicated to Venkateshwara has viewing areas that afford a great view of the city. Sadly, cameras and camera mobiles are banned; your bags are checked at the entrance. Shoes are not allowed, so come early in the morning so the ground will not be too hot. There is a free cloakroom available for both electronics and shoes.Nowadays it is filled with tourists,who come to marvel at its architecture rather than for spiritual purposes. One should observe the intricate carvings on the marble walls and dome of the temple. Free.

B.M. Birla Planetarium and Science & Technological Museum, Adarshnagar, Hyderabad -63 (Very close to Birla Temple, Naubat Pahad), ☎+91 40 2324 1067. Museum 10:30AM-8PM, Planetarium English shows 11:30AM, 4PM, 6PM, More shows in Telugu and one show in Hindi. F-W. The show at the planetarium lasts 35 min and is moderately interesting. The technological museum, on the other hand, is poorly maintained. The Dinosaurium at the upper level is interesting. It contains a complete skeleton of a dinosaur Kotasaurus yamanpalliensis discovered in the village of Yemanapalli in 1988. The lower level displays the personal collection of Nirmala Birla, also quite interestingMuseum Rs 40, Planetarium Rs 40, combined admission Rs 70, Parking Rs 20.

The High Court of Telangana, Nayapul.

The Hyderabad Public School, Begumpet. Formerly a Nizam's palace and the Jagirdar's College. This Institution was founded in 1923 and is currently one of the oldest and largest public schools in the country. The campus is also an internationally recognised heritage site.

Nehru Zoological park. Has some rare and interesting exhibits.There is a Lion safari and a Tiger Safari.Adult -Rs 20.

Exhibition, Nampally (Vanitha College). An exhibition that runs in the months of January & February every year. It showcases various items made across India. It runs every year starting 1 Jan-15 Feb in the Exhibition grounds.

Shilparamam, Hi tec city, Madhapur. 11AM-8PM. Designed as a contrast to the futuristic Cyber tower that lies across the road, the crafts village of Shilparamam ("sculpture village") guards the entrance road to Hi tec city. The intent is to showcase and preserve the old. There is a bazaar where you can buy assorted handicrafts and art work. There is also an entire village where you can find realistic -looking sculptures of villagers carrying out their traditional crafts. You can also find a rock museum which contains natural rock formations that allegedly look life-like. Make sure you carry cash to buy anything you like - credit cards are not accepted by most shops.You can bargain the price up to 1/3 of the quoted price.If you are a foreigner they try to fleece you,you need to bargain even more for a fair price. Also next to Shilpa Ramam is Shilpa Sandhya Vedika, a location for eating and shopping.Rs 40.

Temples

Birla Mandir. Birla Mandir on the Naubath Pahad is a magnificent Hindu temple of Lord Venkateshwara, entirely built in white marble located in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. The Birla Foundation has constructed several similar temples in India, all of which are known as Birla Mandir. The temple manifests a blend of South Indian, Rajasthani and Utkala temple architectures. In its entirety, it is made of 2,000 tons of pure Rajasthani white marble. The granite of the presiding deity is about 3.4 m (11 ft). tall and a carved lotus forms an umbrella on the roof. The consorts of Lord Venkateswara, Padmavati and Andal are housed in separate shrines. There is a brass flagstaff in the temple premises which rises to a height of 13 m (42 ft).Free. (17.34839,78.39883E)

Balaji Temple (Visa Balaji), Chilkur, [12]. 5AM-8PM. Chilkur is an important pilgrim center in Hyderabad, Telangana (India). The Lord here is Sri Venkateswara Swamy in a standing posture, beside whom is Goddess Sridevi and Goddess Bhudevi. People with wishes, take 11 rounds a round the core of the temple. Once their wish as been fulfilled they return to perform 108 more rounds. You will find people ticking away at the pieces of paper with the numbers to track the count.The god here is also referred as Visa Balaji because,people usually come here wishing for their US Visas to be approved.Free. (17.34839,78.39883E)

Mahankali Temple, Laldarwaza. Site of the main annual Bonalu procession.Free. (17.34839,78.39883E)

Ujjaini Mahankali Temple, Secunderabad. Free. (17.34839,78.39883E)

Peddamma Temple, Jubilee Hills. Free. (17.34839,78.39883E)

Ashtalaksmi temple, dilsukhnagar. Free. (17.34839,78.39883E)

Puri Jagannath Temple

Mosques

Hyderabad has many historical mosques.

Mecca Masjid.

Charminar Masjid.

Toli Masjid.

Jama Masjid Darushafa.

Badshai Masjid.

Jama Masjid Mushirabad.

Churches

St Joseph's Cathedral, Gun Foundry Area. Established in 1820, this is the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Hyderabad.

St. George's Church, Abid Road, [15]. St. George's Church is one of the oldest churches in the city of Hyderabad, India. It was built in the year 1844 AD. The church was originally an Anglican church but is now under the auspices of the Church of South India.

Lakes

Hussain Sagar Lake.

Hussain Sagar Lake (Tank Bund), Necklace Rd. 24 hrs. The artificial lake is a historical landmark, built during the reign of Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah in 1562 by damming the Musi. This forms the boundary between Hyderabad and Secunderabad. Surrounding the lake are various parks, temples, statues and historical buildings. This is one of the few walkable places in the city. At the centre of the lake stands a famous statue of the Buddha installed in 1992. Boat rides to Budha Statue are available from Eat Street and Lumbini Park, and fares are low. Speedboats, however, do not stop at the Buddha statue.low.

Osman Sagar Gandipet

Himayat Sagar

Durgam Cheruvu (Secret Lake) - this is quite close to Hi-Tec City area and now hosts various parties and events. It used to be a real hidden gem in the busy city but it is still a nice lake to sit around.

Shamirpet 24 km away to the north of Secunderabad, Shamirpet has a beautiful lake and a deer park. The peaceful environs make it a great picnic spot. TS Tourism offers comfortable cottages facilities for accommodation (under private management) while the forest lodge can be booked with the TS Forest Department office at Saifabad.

Saroornagar - this lake is very famous as it has been lined by a solid strong wall on one side recently. A two lane undivided road is laid over this wall. The road is neat and exciting to drive. It has abundant lighting during nighttime and large pedestrian space provided. A problem is 'eutrophication' which is caused due to water hyacinth. A pleasant space for young couples to spend their evening. Smells sometimes, but that is the nature of any waterbody in a metropolis. Another important event that takes place is 'vinayakachaturthy', (a festival for Hindus in which Lord Vinayaka's statues are immersed (and thereby dissolved) in water). All roads lead to saroor nagar lake on the day of the Lord Ganesh's nimajjanam.

Parks

Public Gardens. Known as the Bagh-e-aam (Garden for the commoners), it has well laid out gardens and is surrounded by the imposing State Legislative Assembly building, the Jubilee Hall, the Jawahar Bal Bhavan, the Health Museum and the State Archaeological Museum. This was the old zoo and now is a beautiful place for both children and adults.Free.

Necklace Road. The Chaupati of Hyderabad.

Indira Park. A sprawling 76 acre park located near Tank Bund with a nice little pond and boating.

Nehru Zoological Park (almost natural habitat for a great collection of animals.drive in + Safari)

KBR National Park (Chiraan Palace)

Chilkur Wildlife Park

Jalavihar Family Water Park (Necklace Rd)

Mahaveer Vanasthali Wildlife park

Lumbini Park - It also offers nice Laser Shows in the evening which is first in India.

Chacha Nehru Park (Masab Tank) for pleasant morning walks with kids

Jalagam Vengal Rao Park (JVR Park, Banjara Hills)

NTR (Nandamoori Taraka Ramarao) Gardens (Necklace Rd)

The wild life parks, botanical garden and zoo have several educational programs including lectures with live snakes

The bad news is this has been almost occupied by some people and there is no surprise if you don't see this.

Tours

Recently, there has been a great rise in the number of complaints about harassment of innocent tourists in various destinations around the country. The Ministry of Tourism has adopted a strategy of introducing Audio Guide Devices at various places of interest around the country such as the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, etc. to provide reliable and factual information to tourists. It is wise to hire such devices as you can avoid being ripped off or ambushed by desperate touts itching to make a buck. The Ministry of Tourism has also announced its partnership with AudioCompass, a company specializing in creating Audio Tours of all places of interest in the country including Hyderbad, Golconda Fort, etc in the form of Audio Devices available at the monuments and Smartphone apps that can be download from the App Store.

Do

Heritage walk, Char Minar, [16]. 7AM-9AM every Sunday and 2nd Saturday. They are organized by the TS tourism department and led by a knowledgeable guide and Tourist Police. There are two flavors of walks so far, one that ends at Chowmohalla palace, and the other that ends at Badshahi Ashoorkhana.Bonus - breakfast served too! It's probably better to call up at [17] beforehand and confirm which walk is on.Ticket price is Rs 50 per head and can be bought at char minar on the spot.

Bungee Trampoline at NTR Park

NTR Gardens, NTR Marg (West of Hussain Sagar lake). 2 PM-8:30PM. Built in memory of N T Rama Rao, ex-Chief Minister, this is an amusement park which houses some nice attractions like a mini-train, a haunted house, a boat ride, etc. There is a cafe where the seating is in the shape of vintage cars. You can either spend money on the rides or generally stroll around and gape at the fountains and the giant insects. For rides, the Rs 45 combo you can buy at the entrance is a good deal.Rs 15 for entry, rides extra..

Lumbini Park, NTR Marg (West of Hussain Sagar lake). 9 AM-9 PM. See water cascades, go on guided car rides. Go on a boat ride and see the Buddha statue at the centre of the lake.Rs 10, rides extra.

Hyderabad Adventure & Trekker’s club (HAT’s), ☎+91 9985020105 ([email protected]), [18]. Hyderabad Adventure & Trekker’s club is an active and well organized Trekker’s group out of the Hyderabad area. It make an effort to be as inclusive as possible by offering Adventure Treks at all levels, from bouldering to trekking Exploring Wilderness..

Dhola ri Dhani, Kompally, Medchal Rd (11 km from Secunderabad at Kompally on Medchal Highway), [19]. Ethnic Rajasthani village. A unit of Gupta's Hotel & Motels and is recognized by Telangana Government as a Theme Restaurant and Tourist Attraction. In the evening, the whole village is lit up with 2,000 lanterns and a village fair is staged.

Ramoji Film City holds the record for the world's largest film studio, though most of the shooting takes place outdoors. Many Telugu and Hindi films are produced here. Tourists can tour the studios and there are two hotels. It's a 1 hour drive east of the city.

GoGoa Acquarium is an exhibition of rare Sea water animals including Star Fish and Quran Angel and showcase of the Goan Marine/Aquatic life. Entry is Rs 100 for adults and Rs 50 for children. This place is on the Vijayawada Highway, 3 km from Ramoji Film City.

Friends of Snakes Society, For reptile conservation work and field trips. ☎ +91 8374233366/77/88.

Great Hyderabad Adventure Club (GHAC), Inside A.K Enclave, Road No 3, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad (Lane Next to Meena Bazar), ☎+91 40 68888197 ([email protected]), [20]. 9:30 am to 6:30 pm. Hyderabad's own non profit community based adventure club. Here you can meet local adventure professionals, amateurs and participate in many adventure activities like trekking, rock climbing, rappelling and adventure sports conducted in and around Hyderabad and rest of India.

Rent a bicycle and enjoy the ride (Hitech City Bike Station), Lumbini Avenue, Gachibowli, Hyderabad (Near Bio-diversity park). 5 AM to 10 AM, 5 PM to 8 PM, Closed on Mondays. Hi tech City Bike Station is a popular place on weekend mornings for renting a bicycle for up to 4 hours. The bicycles are decent enough for a 50km ride but not great. Most people take the service road of Outer Ring Road and ride the scenic Gandipet lake route.

For an insight into the contemporary cultural landscape of the city, do visit Lamakaan where various theater group perform in Telugu, English and Urdu/Hindi languages. This is also a good place to meet localities.

Weekend Getaways

Hyderabad has a number of options for weekend getaways. Places like Hampi, Bidar and resorts around Hyderabad are in close proximity for weekend getaways but if you're willing to travel a little more you can explore options like Dandeli, Gokarna and Badami. There are several companies that connect all of these places with individual travelers and corporate travelers from Hyderabad.

LifeIsOutside, ☎+91 88800 36677 ([email protected]), [21]. LifeIsOutside is one of India's leading short break and weekend getaway portal with a pan India coverage. LifeIsOutside provides an end to end solution for corporate getaways and outings. [22]

Tennis courts

Learn

Buddhism

Bodhi Sampanna, ☎ +91 98 663 24910, ([email protected]), [117]. The centre, whose name means 'an abode endowed with Bodhi', is a centre for the study and practice of Mahayana Buddhism following the lineage and example of Lord Buddha. Bodhi Sampanna was founded in 2009 and is a part of Dharma Megha Foundation The Centre offers courses in various Buddhist meditation techniques and teachings on different aspects of Buddhism. Teachings are offered free to the public and are conducted in English or in Tibetan (with translation in English).

Work

Buy

Jewellery

Jagdamba Pearls, Gupta Estate, Basheer Bagh, ☎+91 40 6656 6777, [23]. Jagdamba Pearls, is one of the oldest and the largest pearl companies in India.

The Golden Mile of Hyderabad for shopping, consisting of shopping plazas, Malls, Designer Boutiques and upmarket shops - Starting from Lifestyle near the Begumpet Flyover and extending all the way till Road No.1 Banjara Hills.

Eat

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This guide uses the following price ranges for a typical meal for one, including soft drink:

Budget

< Rs 250

Mid-range

Rs 250-750

Splurge

> Rs 750

No visit to Hyderabad would be complete without sampling its unique cuisine - a rich blend of royal Mughlai flavours, Nizams special, and spice-up culinary traditions of South India such as: Hyderabadi biryani, pathar-ka-ghosht, nahari, haleem, double-ka-meetha, khubani-ka-meetha, seviyon-ka-meetha and kheer.

A popular dish of Hyderabad is biryani. Ask anybody about their favorite dish of Hyderabad, and they will definitely tell you Hyderabadi biryani. It is prepared with a blending of Mughal kitchen and the style of cooking practiced by the Nizams. Hyderabadi biryani has a distinct aroma. Beautifully garnished with pudina, fried onion & boiled eggs. Mostly it is served with dahi-ki-chutney and mirchi-ka-salan. Biryani has many variants like mutton biryani, chicken biryani, biryani khaam, biryani zard or zafrani or the most exotic of all joban malti biryani in which mutton, partridges and quails were cooked with rice.

Hyderabadi dum biryani, is where dum refers to the baking process and basmati rice and meat or vegetables are mixed in a pot and heated for a long time. During the Nizam's time, the biryani was made with lamb carefully cooked with rice. Culinary delicacies of Hyderabad include:

Gosht, which is made from a buck/billy/young goat, and is associated with the Hyderabadi cuisine. Hyderabadis prize the meat of a male goat.

Kachchi gosht ki biriyani, of Hyderabad, where raw meat is stir fried with spices (masala) for a couple of minutes and then covered with rice and put on dum. Today, Biryani is also made using vegetables, chicken, seafood and beef. The beef Biryani is known as Kalyani Biryani, available at many small eateries in the city. Although any Irani cafe might serve this delectable dish, there are a few places better known for tasteful food than their hygiene.

Hyderabadi Haleem, is another dish which is available only in the month of Ramadaan (Ramzan).

Mirchi ka salan, served with spicy chilly gravy, is another dish that serves as a tasty accompaniment to any rice item.

Khubani ka meetha, is Hyderabad's preferred dessert sweet. It is made from apricots boiled in sugar syrup till they achieve a thick consistency. It looks similar to, but tastes different from gajar ka halwa (carrot halwa). It is often topped with ice-cream or cream.

Double Ka Meetha, is a dessert made from bread, milk and dry fruits.

Falooda, is a favourite drink of Hyderabad.

Irani chai is the tea of Hyderabad, available at any of the ubiquitous "Chai" shops. Although, not all of them have the best hygiene and it is best to go with a local. The crowd at the stalls is composed mainly of blue collared workers and college students so expect a noisy environment with conversational topics that range from movies to politics.

Street food, in Hyderabad is better than most other cities in India and it is cheap. Gokul Chaat in Koti is a well known and pretty popular joint for snacks like Samosa Chaat, Dahi Puri and Sev Puri. Amazingly tasty Rajasthani street food (Kachori, Samosa and Aloo Mirch) is served by Rajasthan Namkeen Bhandar, also located in Koti (diagonally opposite Womens College bus-stop).

Malai Plate, nampally-public garden road (below the tree). 6am-7pm. A milk bar that is located near the hyderabad railway station offers something really special apart from its famous milk and bun and that is fresh cream with a spoonful of sugar. A plate of fresh cream scooped from the boiling milk with a dash of sugar is truly a rare,warm and childhood reminder treat30.

Restaurants

Hyderabad's famous haleem

Food Mess

In recent times, there has been an explosion in the number of restaurants in Hyderabad, fueled by demand from young professionals with money to spend. Quality and variety of food, however, has not kept pace. There is a disproportionately large number of restaurants that aspire to be called "fine-dining" restaurants, but the food they serve is usually indifferent. In general, keep away from restaurants that call themselves "multi-cuisine" or if you see multiple cuisines on the menu, as the chances are that they are attempting to serve every kind of palate and will not satisfy any.

The older areas of Hyderabad are better places to find good and cheap food. Places close to Hi tec city, such as Madhapur and Kondapur, tend to have expensive and bad food, while in Banjara Hills and Jubilee Hills you will find restaurants that are expensive, but which sometimes serve good food. Those misled by the fact that Hyderabad is in South India and expecting South Indian food may be disappointed. While there are excellent South Indian restaurants in some of the older areas like Koti and Abids, the average South Indian food served here is quite bad.

Budget

Alpha, (opposite Secunderabad Railway Station), ☎+91 40 2770 2291. Popular for beja fry, available only in the morning and served for breakfast.

Hyderabad House, Multiple locations, [28]. This is a chain of restaurants, serving Hyderabadi style food all over the city. There are also outlets that comprise just a takeout counter. Try the Lukhmi. Vegetarians will have few choices.Rs 200.

Shadaab, Madina Building, ☎+91 40 2313 4446. Famous for its Hyderabadi Mutton Biryani and Jabda Gosht available only in the morning, served for breakfast.

Sandarshini. Delicious South Indian dishes. Is present in over 5 locations

Taj Mahal Restaurant, # 4-1-999 Abids (Part of Taj Mahal Hotel), ☎+91 40 2475-8250, +91 40 6551-1122. 11AM-11PM. One of the original "Udupi" style restaurants, this is strictly vegetarian and does not serve alcohol. It is part of the Taj Mahal Hotel, not to be confused with the nationally famous Taj chain of luxury hotels. The food in the restaurant is tasty and good, and like Udupi restaurants, serves South Indian, North Indian and "Chinese". You are advised to stick to South Indian. The ambiance in the A/C section is old-school.Rs 200.

Mid-range

Barbecue Nation, Banjara Hills (opp. City Centre Mall). Enjoy unlimited starters on a barbecue grill right on your table. Desserts are just okay. In happy hours(before 8 pm) the price will be 650+taxes Otherwise 850650+taxes.

Angeethi, Unit 701-703, 7th floor, Reliance Classic, Rd # 1 Banjara Hills, ☎+91 40 6525 5550, [29]. 12:30PM-3:30PM, 7:00PM-11:30PM. The ambience is of a Dhaba, complete with a pan shop, a well and a quack peddling herbal remedies for "marital problems". Interesting variations on traditional Punjabi dishes, but the dessert selection is meager. The beverage menu has a quirky location at the end of the main menu.Rs 500.

Bombay Palace, # 6-1-79 & 80 Hampshire Plaza, Lakdi-Ka-Pul, ☎+91 40 2333 5555. 7:30PM-11:30PM. Has a decor that reminds you of Mumbai. Menu specialities include ragda patties and other items popularized by Mumbai's streets in addition to Mughlai and Hyderabadi dishes. Live Ghazals every evening.Rs 300.

Malgudi, 6-3-1192/2/1-16, 1st Floor, My Home Tycoon, Begumpet (Lifestyle Building), ☎+91 40 6662-8800, +91 40 6663-2277, +91 40 2383-9671. The name is inspired by the fictional South Indian town created by R K Narayan. It has an ambiance that suits the name, with waiters clad in dhotis. On the menu, you will find foodstuff from the four southern states that are rare to find in other restaurants, like gutti vankai or kodi pulusu. Service is extremely fast. In Hyderabad, it has 3 branches:Rs 500.

Olive Garden, 1-98/90/1, Hi-Tech City, Madhapur, ☎+91 40 2311 0900, +91 40 2310 0300. 11:30AM-3:30PM, 7PM-11PM. Do not be misled by the name and expect Italian. It serves passable Mughlai and Punjabi fare. Close to Hi tech city, so this is an option if you are looking for a quick place to eat.

Our Place, 8-2-602/E, Charan Pahadi, Rd No. 10 Banjara Hills (look out for a small lane that goes upwards), ☎+91 40 23353422. Has received great reviews for its kebabs and tandoori dishes. But avoid the Thai stuff, as it looks like a pale imitation. The ambiance is great, the seating is outdoors amidst much greenery. Often, they have live gazal music for dinner.Rs 350.

Serengeti, 8-2-682/3, Rd No. 12, Banjara Hills (Ohri's Banjara), ☎+91 40 2330-2200. 12 noon-3:30, 7PM-11:30PM. Cuisine is from the Northwest Frontier Province while the decor tries to create the ambiance of an African safari. The food is good, the wine list is extensive and quite good. For a change, the dessert menu does not suck.Rs 600.

Sahib Sindh Sultan, City Centre, 5th Floor, Road no. 1 & 10, Banjara Hills, ☎91 40 66683337, [35]. 12 noon-3:30PM,7PM-11.30PM. Themed on the eponymous 19th century train. Seating is available inside the "carriage" or on the "railway station". Waiters are dressed in turbans and railway announcements are interspersed with the music. The food is good, the pickles interesting and you have a good choice of drinks. Try the licchi ki taheri for dessert.Rs 350.

Paradise Restaurant, Paradise Circle, M G Rd, Secunderabad. 11:30AM-11:30PM. This restaurant is branch of one of the oldest places serving Biryani and of late has lost some of its sheen owing to explosion of business. Also serves the best falooda in Hyderabad. It has both a sit-down restaurant and takeaway. They do have branches, but confusingly imitators with similar names have sprung up all over the city. A new branch has recently opened up at Masab Tank crossroad & Hitec City near Shilpakala Vedhika price="Rs.800 for 2 people".

Spice Junxion, Taj Deccan, Road Number 1, Banjara Hills, ☎+91 40 6666-3939, [40]. 12PM-3:30PM, 7PM-11:30PM. South Indian cuisine with a trendy twist. Lunchtime platters with 10 starters, 8 main course items and 4 desserts served in a span of 40 min. Regular menu items are dosa with mutton curry and idly with chicken curry. The condiment trolley has 17 different types of chutneys, pickles, spicy powders, papads and vadiyalu from South India. Desserts; paan ice cream, all-spice chocolates and traditional south Indian sweets are made in-house.

Bakeries, cafes, sweet shops and fast food

Hyderabad has a large number of outlets that are positioned as bakeries. These are primarily takeaway places, where one can buy sandwiches, burgers, biscuits and puffs to go (called parcel in local parlance.) Usually, there are a few chairs and tables thrown in as an afterthought.

Many Western chains have set up shop in the posh areas of Hyderabad. Among these are Texas Chicken, McDonald's, KFC, Pizza Hut, Dominos and Subway. Most of these have multiple outlets and all of them have Indianised their fare to varying extents. The Indian pizza chain Pizza Corner also has many outlets. Barista[120], Cafe Coffee Day[121] and Java Green[122] outlets are good places to have coffee and conversations.

Pulla Reddy Sweets, is an iconic chain of sweet shops. The outlets are found all over Hyderabad and are so popular that it has spawned imitators who copy the distinctive yellow signs and choose some variation of "Reddy" (a common last name in Andhra Pradesh) as the name.

Pista House, 20-4-140/1-8, Shalibanda Rd, Charminar, ☎+91-93965-00786. 10AM-11PM. Famous bakery in Hyderabad world famous haleem only available in holy month of ramadan cost around Rs 150 per person. once you have it, you can't wait for the next year.

The Chocolate Room, Plot no 268, Kavuri hills (near Madhapur Police Station Crossing, Jubilee hills), ☎+91 40 6458-9595, [45]. Wonderful drinking chocolates and crepes. Also a good place to hang out and have a conversation, though it does get crowded on weekends during the evening.Rs150.

Drink

There is plenty to do at night in Hyderabad, though local regulations have most places serving last drinks by 11PM. On weekdays, drinks in the some of the pubs have best offers, as most clubs are empty until Thursday or Friday nights, when the clubbers emerge. But the sheer number of nightlife spots makes it hard to choose which ones to list. As a general rule they tend to be clustered around Begumpet and Road No.1, Banjara Hills.

Alcohol is available easily from numerous Liquor Shops, known as wine shops in local parlance, spread across the twin cities, in restaurants with bars attached (includes most upscale ones) and in pubs.

WARNING: Drunken driving is not tolerated and police enforce the rule strictly. After 11PM almost all the roads have police patrols and check drunk driving. If caught you may end up paying fines, apart from vehicle being seized and couple of rounds to police station in worst scenarios.

Some of the good pubs and bars are part of hotels, and they have been covered along with their hotel listing under Sleep.

Sleep

This guide uses the following price ranges for a standard double room:

Budget

Under Rs 1,500

Mid-range

Rs 1,500-4,500

Splurge

Over Rs 4,500

Accommodation in Hyderabad is unlikely to bust your budget, especially when compared to cities like Mumbai or Bangalore, and rooms are usually easily available. However, because the city sprawls so much, you need to be careful about the hotel location if you want to avoid a long commute and traffic bottlenecks.

Plenty of options are available with online booking facilities, with web based aggregator services like OYO rooms, Stayzilla, makemytrip, etc. providing good deals for advance bookings.

Plentiful budget accommodation is to be found around the Nampally railway station and in Abids, Koti and other new city areas for a few hundred rupees a day, and tourist attractions aren't very far off. However the facilities tend to be basic, the towels aren't necessarily clean and air-conditioning tends to be extra. It might make sense to pay a little more and choose mid-range accommodation. The area around Hussain Sagar Lake, Begumpet, Punjagutta, Somajiguda, Banjara Hills and Lakdi-ka-Pul are close to both tourist attractions of the old city and the business areas of the new city. Hotels in Secunderabad might be slightly far for the tourist, but may still work for the business traveller.

Unfortunately, hotel rooms tend to be expensive and scarce closer to Hi tec city, and commuting from any of the above areas, except perhaps Banjara Hills, is not a good option because of the traffic. Areas around Hi tec city are Madhapur, Kondapur and Gachibowli. For longer term stays, you might want to consider serviced apartments (See below)

Asrani International, Plot Number 179, M G Rd, Secunderabad, ☎+91 40 2784 6901, +91 40 2784 2271, +91 40 2784 2267. checkin: 24hr. Has most basic facilities you'd expect from a business hotel. Located in Secunderabad, which is far from Hi-tech city, but close to the main city. Hosts a popular pub called Spanish Fly.Rs 2,500-3,500.

The Central Court, 6-1-71, Lakdi-ka-Pul, ☎+91 98 493-23232, +91 40 2323-2323, +91 40 2323-3262, [58]. Centrally located and targeted at the business traveller who needs a place to sleep. Provides complimentary internet and most other business facilities. In addition, it has a couple of reasonable restaurants.

Baseraa, 1-9-167/168, Sarojini Devi Rd, Secunderabad, ☎+91 40 2770-3200, [59]. checkin: 12PM; checkout: 12PM. If the location fits, this is an excellent choice for a good, reasonably priced hotel. It has been recently renovated, and the rooms are plush without being opulent. Free WiFi and a complimentary breakfast. Dining is available at Mehfill a restaurant with live ghazal shows every evening. It also has a coffee shop and a cricket themed pub.Rs 2,500-6,500 (extra for foreigners paying in dollars).

Hotel Mandakini Jaya International, 3/1 & 3/2 Reddy Hostel Lane, Hanuman Tekdi, Abids, ☎+91 99 9945 5063, [63]. Chic hotel located at the market area of Abids and well connected with city and other business centres. Good for both business and leisure traveller and is very close to the airport.From Rs 1,700.00.

Kamat Lingapur, 1-10-44/2, Chikoti Gardens, Begumpet, ☎+91 40 2776 4242, [65]. checkin: noon; checkout: noon. This used to be close to the airport before they moved the airport. Adequate place to stay for the average traveller who isn't looking for frills. Has a pretty good restaurant Shrirang which offers vegetarian food.Free breakfast, though the menu heavily favours South Indian vegetarian.Rs 2,500-3,500.

Minerva Grand. Promoted as a "Boutique Business Hotel". Rooms are elegantly furnished and provide a cozy atmosphere without pampering you too much. It has a business centre, internet in all rooms, and both locations have branches of Blue Fox, a multi-cuisine restaurant. Present in 2 locations:

Quality Inn Residency, 5-8-231/2,Public Garden Rd, ☎+91 40 3061 6161, +91 40 2320 4080,+91 40 5551 4060, [72]. checkin: 24hr; checkout: 24hr. Business hotel, internet, conference facilities. Venue, a vegetarian restaurant is part of the hotel, as is One Flight Down, a basement pub. The location is more suited for access to the main city rather than Hi tech city.Rs 3,300-11,000.

Rukmini Riviera, 6-1-1062 (behind Hotel Dwaraka Lakdi-ka-Pul), ☎+91 40 6678-5566, +91 92 4659 1237, [73]. checkin: 24hr; checkout: 24 hr. Basic, functional and clean hotel. 2 restaurants, one is vegetarian and the other has a bar. It is located near the city centre, at a reasonable distance from both tourist attractions and office complexes, though it is not suitable if you need access to Hi tech city. 2 banquet halls, geared more towards weddings and other celebrations.Rs 1,600-2,200.

Splurge

Aditya Park, Aditya Trade Center, lane beside Huda Maitrivanam, Ameerpet, ☎+91 40 6678 8888. Close to business areas, but far from tourist attractions or from Hi tech city. Free internet, and have a restaurant Promenade and a bar Harry's.Rs 4,500-6,000.

Fortune Select Manohar, Old Airport Exit Road, Begumpet, ☎+91 40 6654 3456, [75]. checkin: 12PM; checkout: 12PM. As the name suggests, this used to be the hotel closest to the old airport. Though it has lost that advantage now that the airport has moved, it hasn't lost the advantage of being located close to the busy commercial area of Begumpet. Free breakfast, and hi-speed internet is available, well-equipped business centre. Has good, but not great dining options.Rs 10,000-18,000.

The Golkonda, 10-1-124, Masab Tank Crossroads (opposite Polytechnic), ☎+91 40 6611 0101, +91 40 2332 0202, +91 40 2332-0404 (toll free: 1800 425-0202), [76]. This is one of the few 4 star hotels in this area. Free breakfast and free internet. Has a fitness centre and a swimming pool. Suitable both for business travellers and tourists.Rs 5,000-9,000 (extra for foreigners paying in dollars).

Green Park, Greenlands, Begumpet, ☎+91 40 6651 5151,, [77]. checkin: 12PM; checkout: 12PM. Close to the city's business areas. Rooms are well-furnished, free breakfast coffee shop, internet and access to the minibar. Once upon a time is the specialty restaurant. The Mustang Bar and Torque the pub.Rs 5,000-11,000.

Hampshire Plaza, 6-1-79 & 80, Diagonally Opposite To Amravathi Theater, Lakdi-ka-Pul, ☎+91 40 2333 5555, [78]. checkin: 12PM; checkout: 12PM. Well worth a stay if the location is right. Well-appointed rooms, with WiFi and all amenities you would expect at the price.Rs 7,000-11,000.

ITC Kakatiya, 6-3-1187, Begumpet, ☎+91 40 2333 5555, [80]. If price is no object, this is the place to stay. Located in the centre of the business district. It has 3 full-service restaurants. Deccan Pavilion is open 24 hr, and serves up a Sun brunch from 12:30PM-3PM. South Indian restaurant Dakshin and an Irish-themed pub Dublin.Rs 15,000-30,000.

Marriott. has 2 properties within walking distance of each other in the Tank Bund area near Hussain Sagar Lake and the Courtyard.

Marriott Hotel & Convention Centre, opposite Hussain Sagar Lake,Tank Bund Rd, ☎+91 40 2752-2999, [81]. checkin: 3PM; checkout: 12 noon. The more expensive rooms have a view of the Hussain Sagar Lake right across the street. WiFi and wired internet available in all rooms, charged extra. There are 3 restaurants and a bar, including Bidri an Indian restaurant serving Hyderabadi cuisine.Rs 7,000-16,000.

Novotel Accor, (near Hitec City Izzatnagar Kondapur), ☎+91 40 6682 4422, [84]. checkin: 3PM; checkout: 12PM. One of few options for those who need to stay close to Hitec city. Facilities for conferences and training seminars. Many dining options, and its bar is known simply as The BarRs 7,000-9,000.

Novotel Hyderabad Airport, Rajiv Gandhi International Airport Hyderabad, ☎+91 40 6625 0000, [85]. checkin: 3PM; checkout: 12PM. In the unlikely case that you actually need to stay close to the new airport.Rs 5,000-7,000.

Taj Hotels, [86]. Taj, a famous Indian hotel chain has 4 iconic hotels in Hyderabad, 3 of them on the same street in Banjara Hills.

Taj Banjara, Road No. 1, Banjara Hills, ☎+91 40 6666 2323, [87]. checkin: 3PM; checkout: 12 noon. Taj Banjara is located by the side of its own private lake. The lake is not very well-maintained or clean, but the rooms are. Conference facilities and good for business events. Open-air restaurant Kabab-e-bahar serves Indian BBQ. Underdeck, a basement pub.Rs 5,000-16,000.

Taj Krishna, Road No. 1, Banjara Hills, ☎+91 40 6666 2323, [89]. checkin: 3PM; checkout: 12 noon. This is the closest that Hyderabad has to a grand old hotel. Taj bought a failing property and turned it into one of the premier hotels in Hyderabad. The hotel interiors are over the top, but rooms are tastefully done, though the hotel's age shows in some places. Golden Dragon Chinese restaurant, Ahala the pub, conference facilities available.Rs 9,000-15,000.

Taj Falaknuma Palace, Engine Bowli, Falaknuma, Hyderabad - 500053, India, ☎+91 40 6666 2323, [90]. checkin: 3PM; checkout: 12 noon. This is the closest that Hyderabad has to a grand old hotel. Taj bought an erstwhile palace, the former residence of the nizam of Hyderabad and refurbished it into one of the premier and most luxurious hotels in the world. The hotel interiors are opulently designed, with large Venetian chandeliers, rare furniture, grand marble staircases and gurgling fountains, priceless statues, and objets d'art, stained-glass windows, unique sketches and murals encased in ornate frames, a world-class collection of crystal as well as the Mughal, Rajasthani and Japanese gardens personally conceived by the Nizam. Adaa An indian specialty restaurant, Celeste a multi cuisine restaurant, conference facilities available.Starting from $447.

Serviced apartments

Typically, serviced apartments have tie-ups with corporate professionals and give good rates to them. Companies may hire apartments on semi-permanent basis to house even their short term visitors. Like hotels, you reserve rooms by calling or writing to the property, you follow a check-in and check-out schedule, and you don't have to pay extra for services such as housekeeping, maintenance and utilities. Serviced apartments are usually 40-50% less expensive than hotels.

Contact

Post Office

India Post[123], a govt-owned enterprise, has its headquarters at Abids known as GPO. And its second biggest centre is located in Secunderabad.

Landlines

The dialing code for Hyderabad is 040. When calling from overseas, dial +91 40 XXXX XXXX. If you have a non-working phone number with only 7 digits try to add "2" in front of it. There are public booths scattered around the city.

Mobile phones

One can get a mobile with a calling rate of 1 paise/second for a local/national call. It is very easy to get a Prepaid mobile, which is very cheap to get and for calls. One needs to give a Photo ID proof and a photograph for prepaid as well as postpaid connection as per the Govt. regulations.

Internet

Internet cafes are spread around town and most easily found in the city and residential areas. Charges vary between Rs 5-15/hr. Reliance WebWorld provides Broadband internet centres.
Indian Railways is offering free WiFi to passengers for a half an hour duration at Secunderabad Railway Station per day. 17 WiFi locations have been set up between the Cyber Towers - Madhapur Police Station area, the Cyber Towers - Kothaguda junction area, and the Cyber Towers – Raheja Mindspace Circle areas. After selecting the public Wi-Fi network, a one time password (OTP) password will be sent to the mobile user, who can enjoy internet services of up to 750 mega bytes (MB) per day.

For a longer stays with a laptop, it's better to get a Data plan either from Tata Indicom[135] or Reliance Mobile, which are around Rs 1,000 a month or if you have WLAN (Wireless lan or WiFi) enabled laptops. There are many wireless public WiFi networks available in Hyderabad for free access to high-speed internet.

Stay safe

Hyderabad has remained safe from terrorism of late, although an explosion suspected to be by the Indian Mujahideen happened in 2013, killing 17 and injuring over a hundred people. In 2007 and 2008, Hyderabad has been victim to multiple terrorist outrages in the form of bombings. These blasts have taken place at Mecca Masjid, Lumbini park and at Koti, places often frequented by travellers. Though the chance that you will be in danger is quite low, you should obviously make your own risk assessment. Rather than physical danger, it is more likely that the intrusive security will dampen your enjoyment of your Hyderabad vacation. Every shopping mall, cinema theatre and palace has metal detectors and security guards patting you down.

The old city area was historically known as a communally sensitive zone and a venue for religious riots between Hindus and Muslims. It was common for the police to impose a curfew in that area while the rest of the city went about life without any problems. Old city continues to be at the heart of Hyderabad's crime wave and though many tourist attractions including Charminar are in this area, it is best to avoid late night visits, especially for single females or foreigners traveling alone.

While there were fears of law and order issues before the formation of the Telangana State, such fears have been put to rest by the exemplary police forces here, who are both well equipped and citizen friendly, even taking complaints via Whatsapp, mobile app, and Facebook, and keeping complainants updated on the status of their complaints via the same media. Hyderabad also has an extensive network of CCTV cameras whose feed is used very frequently to swiftly solve crimes.

Outside of these, Hyderabad is a rather safe metropolis. Muggings and violent crime are uncommon, most crimes involve thefts. Avoid staying out late at night, especially if you are a single woman.

The usual tourist-oriented scams in India are not as bad in Hyderabad as they are in other places. However, foreigners will be hounded for money at tourist sites like the old city. Just ignore the beggars and they will go away.

Recently chain snatching incidents (where miscreants on motorcycles zoom past unsuspecting women wearing Gold jewellery and snatch the chain away) have become common in the city. One has to be watchful while going into crowded areas.

Should tourists run into any kind of problem they should immediately contact police at "100" or the emergency services at "108". The police personnel are extremely helpful and for foreign tourists it is even better. Traffic police can be found nearly at all major junctions and can be more effective than "108".

Emergency Numbers

Toll Free Number for Medical, Police and Fire ☎ 108

Police Control Room 100 (The response is very swift.)

Child Line Facility ☎ 1098

Cope

Money changers

Many hotels will change money for you at the front desk. However, they may not offer the best rates.

It is best to change money at the city-based money changers than the ones located at the airports. You'll find many money-changing operations located in Saifabad, some with door-step service. It's also possible to call them and agree on a rate before the transaction.

Newspapers

Eenadu is the most popular local language (Telugu) newspaper and as is Andhra Jyothy. The Deccan Chronicle is Hyderabad's oldest newspaper, and indispensable if you need to look up classifieds for, say, renting a house. The Times of India with its new office in Hyderabad has good local content and is increasingly widely read. For events, business listings and movie listings, fullhyderabad.com is popular. Siasat and Munsif are the main Urdu newspapers for the urdu speaking population.

Hospitals

Apollo Hospital, Jubilee Hills, ☎+91 40 2360 7777. Apollo Hospitals is the largest and most technologically advanced hospital in the city. The Apollo group of hospitals is the second largest in the world and provides healthcare comparable to Western standards.

Get out

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Yadagiri Gutta, (Located about 60 km east of Hyderabad). Home to the Narsimha Swamy Temple.

Bhuvanagiri.

Bhuvanagiri

Basara (sri gnana saraswati temple), Adilabad District

Vijayawada (KanakaDurga Temple)

Vemulawada (Sri RajaRajeshwara Swamy Temple), Karimnagar District

Warangal (Bhadrakali Temple)

Mantralayam (Sri Raghavendra Matham)

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